On a breezy, 70 degree, overcast Wednesday evening,
the 1999 A-League Champion Minnesota Thunder met the Seattle Sounders in
front of a crowd of 3,670 at Macalaster College for probably their last
game at that location. Holding an 8-0-1 record, the Minnesota Thunder hoped
to cap their last game there with one final win.

Before I go any further, I would like to say this was on of the cleanest
(no cards were issued), most attractive matches I have seen in quite some
time. Seattle are a very good team who played well throughout the match.
The officiating, which is frequently knocked in the A-League, was excellent
tonight!

One thing was very clear from the onset of this match. While both teams
had great respect for each other, both felt they had something unique to
bring to the table. On the Seattle side, their intensity, and pressure
on the ball throughout the field made for some early discomfort on Minnesota's
part. Seattle played every 50-50 ball as if it was already theirs, and
it showed in some early errant passes by Minnesota. Once the early pressure
was adjusted to, Minnesota got more into its game and started to control
better, while Seattle never let up. Mid-field play was fun to watch as
each played chess at an intense rate, both showing flair and creativity
on the field.

It was like watching the tide go through its daily course. Possession
would smoothly change from one team to the other as each probed for penetration;
an intelligent, visionary move was made to interrupt the flow, calmly reacting
at just the right time to change the possession on the field.

Seattle also clearly showed they knew plenty about the diminutive 2000
addition to the Minnesota Thunder, Johnny Menyongar. John was solidly marked,
but we were also pleasantly surprised to find that Johnny took this in
stride, serving more as an unselfish distributor when his options were
shut down.

Towards the end of the 1st half, Minnesota was becoming more successful
at penetrating further into the Seattle defensive 3rd. This eventually
paid off in earning a corner kick which resulted in the 1st goal of the
evening. Taken by Luis Labastida from the keepers left side, the ball was
curling away from goal and was placed in high by midfielder Brian Winters
for Defender John Coughlin to head down past Seattle keeper Preston Burpo.

Barely 4 minutes later, another corner kick, also taken by Labistida,
found defender Eric Otto who smoothly sent the ball to Johnny Menyongar
who made quick work slipping the ball low and past Burpo for the 2nd goal
of the 1st half.

Halftime arrived with Minnesota up 2-0.

The 2nd half saw 1 substitution for each team. For Minnesota, Aaron
Leventhal coming in for Luis Labistida, and for Seattle, Rashid Utush came
in for Craig Tomlinson.

One thing I failed to mention from the 1st half. Seattle is doing an
excellent job playing the offside trap. The saying goes, "you live and
die by the offside trap." Seattle's was working just fine tonight, thank
you very much. I finally lost count of how many times Johnny Menyongar
got caught, but the Seattle defense definitely had his number.

The 2nd half was almost like a replay of the 1st half. Neither side
is playing carelessly. Simply working as a team, waiting for the right
moment to attack or counter to present itself. Forays both thru the midfield
and down the flanks continue to show each probing the other, looking for
the mistake to take advantage of, but never materializing. While there
were some moments in both halves where penetration was successful down
the flanks, and crosses sent in, solid goalkeeping and defending, was for
the most part, the name of the game. Remember, both 1st half goals came
from set pieces, not the run of play.

In the 73rd minute, defender Mark Abboud comes on for forward Johnny
Menyongar of Minnesota, and in the 75th minute, former Thunder midfielder
Brian Wood comes on for midfielder Viet Nguyen for Seattle.

In the 81st minute, forward Gerard Lagos is taken down in the box, having
been knocked on the knee earlier, but nothing is called. Unfortunately
for Gerard, this ends his match time for the evening. Coming on is Paul
Schneider, who has a habit of scoring goals very soon after taking the
pitch. Tonight was no exception, as in the 83rd minute, Morgan Zeba streaks
down the left side, and crosses a ball in that Paul Schneider gets his
head on to beat Preston Burpo for the 3rd Thunder goal of the evening,
keeping his game entry, goal scoring reputation intact.

Barely a minute later, midfielder Brian Winters gets a breakaway out
of midfield and is taken down in the box by Kieran Barton. Despite a 3-0
lead, the Referee does not hesitate in pointing to the penalty spot. Unfortunately
for Don Gramenz, Preston Burpo is up to the challenge, and stops a well
taken shot diving to his left.

As the game moves into extra time, a scuffle insues in the Minnesota
box, and in probably the only questionable call of the night, Thunder keeper
John Swallen gets knocked off the ball and the loose ball is knocked into
the net by Andrew Gregor.